Chapter 363: Your little uncle still wants to live a little longer. [Thanks to everyone]

"Boom!"

"Great Zhou, ten thousand victories!"

"Boom!"

"Long live the Sage!"

"Boom!"

"Ten thousand blessings to the Imperial Heir!"

Under the palace wall, the maid Huaxiang held the clothes, listening to the massive shouts from beneath the Xuande Tower.

Among the crowd gathering around, there were many Bianjing idlers and ruffians, and from time to time, someone would cast their gaze toward Huaxiang.

This made Huaxiang feel quite uncomfortable.

Just then,

The curtain of the Rong family's carriage was lifted by the maid Seeing Xi Bu. Afterward, Seeing Xi Bu stepped on the stool placed by the carriage and walked toward Huaxiang.

"Sister Huaxiang, my young lady invites you to sit in the carriage."

Huaxiang looked at the gazes in the surrounding crowd—some kind, some lecherous—thought for a moment, then bowed and followed Seeing Xi Bu over.

Stepping on the stool to board the carriage, before entering the spacious cabin, Huaxiang said to Rong Feiyan, who was sitting in the center: "Huaxiang thanks you, Miss, for your help."

Rong Feiyan smiled and said: "It's nothing! Come in quickly!"

Once inside the carriage, the light gauze curtain was lowered. Only then did Huaxiang lightly pat her chest with her hand while exhaling a sigh of relief, then looked at Rong Feiyan with eyes full of gratitude and admiration.

At this moment, it was exactly the time when the sun was at its highest.

Through the bright light outside the carriage, Rong Feiyan looked at Huaxiang's somewhat dry lips, tidied Rong Xian's coat in her hands, and said softly: "Seeing Xi Bu, pour some tea for Miss Huaxiang to drink."

Rong Feiyan's maid, Ningxiang, glanced at her young lady, then reached out her hand toward Huaxiang and said: "Sister Huaxiang, put the clothes aside first."

Huaxiang looked down at the expensive fabric in her arms and nodded: "Sorry to trouble you, Sister Ningxiang."

As she spoke,

Seeing Xi Bu had already lifted the exquisite silver pot with a thin spout from the carriage's storage compartment and poured tea into a silver bowl, while Ningxiang took the few pieces of clothing from Huaxiang's arms.

"Sister Huaxiang, why are there so many clothes?" Ningxiang asked.

Huaxiang took the silver cup handed over by Seeing Xi Bu and said: "The clothes of the Young Xiao Xiao Gongye and the Gu family's second young master were all placed with me."

Ningxiang nodded, took the smallest piece of clothing from the pile into her hand, and asked: "Whose is this dark-colored one?"

Huaxiang hurriedly swallowed the tea in her mouth and said: "It's the Gu family's second young master's."

Seeing Xi Bu, standing to the side, watched Huaxiang finish the tea in two gulps and laughed: "Sister Huaxiang, pour it yourself if you want more." As she spoke, she handed the thin-spouted silver pot to Huaxiang.

Just as she finished speaking, Rong Feiyan placed the folded Rong Xian coat aside and reached out her hand toward Ningxiang.

Ningxiang handed the only piece of clothing whose owner hadn't been asked about to her young lady, and handed the dark-colored one to Seeing Xi Bu, who had leaned over.

Seeing this, Huaxiang hurriedly tried to put down the water pot and silver cup in her hands, saying: "Miss Rong—"

Before she could finish, Rong Feiyan looked at Huaxiang in confusion, her hands having already folded the clothes in a few quick motions.

"What's wrong?"

Huaxiang smiled slightly and said: "Miss, please forgive me; these things should be done by this servant."

Rong Feiyan smiled and said: "Just a casual act, Huaxiang, don't take it to heart."

As she spoke, Rong Feiyan placed the clothes in her hands on the outer side of her own brother's clothes beside her.

Seeing Rong Feiyan's action, which could barely be considered avoiding suspicion, Huaxiang smiled politely.

At this time, Seeing Xi Bu pointed outside and said: "Look, the canopy and silk umbrella! Has His Majesty ascended the Xuande Tower?"

Everyone's attention was drawn to the scene outside the light gauze.

And at this time, the Han, Lü, Tan, and other families were still busy lifting large drums onto the carriage roofs.

The moment the canopy and silk umbrella representing the Great Zhou Emperor appeared on the Xuande Gate tower along with the Emperor's figure, the shouts on the drill ground in front of the tower suddenly grew louder.

The Bianjing commoners who had previously surrounded the families of the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Korea, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Ling, and others were also attracted by the Emperor on the gate tower, and they began to shout along with the drumbeats of Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and the others.

The descendants of the families of the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Korea, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Ling, and others to the side saw this and deflated one after another.

Someone even lost their temper at the servant who was struggling to lift a large drum, kicking the servant. After the servant lost his strength, he almost let go of the drum, scaring the Bianjing commoners to the side to hide.

High up on the Xuande Tower,

The Emperor held Zhao Fang's hand and stood under the canopy.

Watching the shouts coming from the drill ground in front of the tower, the Emperor's face was full of smiles.

Zhao Fang, to the side, stretched out his hand, pointed at Xu Zaijing and the others, and laughed: "Father, Father, look, look, Brother Jing and the others are standing on the carriages!"

The Emperor said: "It's hard for them to have thought of such a method. Someone, come here!"

Hearing the Emperor's words, Zhao Fang looked at the Emperor with curiosity.

The Emperor responded with a smile.

Amidst the sound of shouting,

Beneath the Xuande Tower,

A team of Great Zhou Imperial Guards holding flags and carrying baskets of copper coins escorted a high-ranking Eunuch out.

Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and the others were standing high up; seeing the high-ranking Eunuch escorted by the Imperial Guards arrive in front of the carriages, they stopped beating the drums, and the shouting became much more scattered.

In the noisy environment, the leading Imperial Guard captain spoke a few words to Xu Zaijing on the carriage roof.

Afterward, a team of Imperial Guards stood in a circle around the three carriages.

With the help of Xu Zaijing and Qingyun, the high-ranking Eunuch climbed onto the carriage.

"Silence!"

The Imperial Guards around the carriage shouted in unison three times.

The area in front of the Xuande Tower slowly quieted down.

The high-ranking Eunuch stood on the carriage and shouted with all his might.

The content of what he said was generally that this recovery of the ancestral land was decided by the Emperor because the intelligent Imperial Prince Zhao Fang had helped him make up his mind.

Without the Imperial Prince helping the Emperor make up his mind, if they hadn't conquered the Bai Gao Kingdom, even if there had been an earthquake in the Bai Gao Kingdom, it wouldn't have helped Great Zhou capture the city!

To celebrate this, firstly, the gambling ban would be lifted for one day tomorrow, and whenever the Bai Gao Kingdom's Xingqing Prefecture was captured, that day would be the fixed date for lifting the gambling ban;

Secondly, for criminals in Great Zhou who had committed minor crimes, their sentences would be halved;

Thirdly, the porridge and fruit distribution in front of the Xuande Tower could continue for two more days.

For every sentence the Eunuch said, the Imperial Guard soldiers beside the carriage shouted in unison.

After the shouting, Gu Tingye began beating the large drum again, and Xu Zaijing began scattering the copper coins brought by the high-ranking Eunuch.

Amidst the shouts of "Ten thousand victories!" and "Long live!", the Emperor's canopy and silk umbrella disappeared from the Xuande Gate tower.

When a few more families imitated Xu Zaijing and the others, using three carriages to build a platform, scattering copper coins, or scattering food.

Gu Tingye was a bit tired from beating the drum, so he switched with Rong Xian, who went up. It was evident that Rong Xian enjoyed "one drum beat, a thousand responses, scattering ten thousand coins."

Beside the carriage,

The high-ranking Eunuch, whose voice sounded a bit hoarse, took a bamboo tube of sweet drink handed over by Xu Zaijing and said: "Many thanks, Brother Jing!"

After moistening his throat, the high-ranking Eunuch looked at the jubilant scene around him, smiled at Xu Zaijing and the others, and said: "Several young masters, when I came, the Empress instructed this servant that the Imperial Guards who came outside the palace to maintain order would be rewarded by the Empress herself; several young masters need not worry."

Xu Zaijing and the others looked at each other and bowed in unison to thank her.

At the hour of Wei (around 2:00 PM),

Because the noble officials and wealthy families of Bianjing were distributing things for free, many people had gathered, and people had already begun building performance platforms on the drill ground in front of the Xuande Tower to prepare for tomorrow and the day after.

Xu Zaijing and the others dispersed the three carriages that had built the "high platform" and pulled them under the palace wall.

Qingyun and the others were harnessing the horses, and Rong Xian stood beside Xu Zaijing and said:

"Brother Jing, this method of yours is much more refreshing than distributing porridge!"

"I've never played like this before!"

Gu Tingye wiped the sweat from his forehead and laughed: "Brother Xian, well said! Brother Jing, next time there's something like this, don't forget me!"

Xu Zaijing shook his head with a smile to the side. He was truly in a good mood today; after all, it was the recovery of Great Zhou's ancestral land. With General Cao Lao putting pressure on the Bai Gao Kingdom from the south, his father, Xu Minghua, in the north could put more energy into guarding against the Northern Liao Kingdom.

That it could finally turn into such a lively scene in front of the Xuande Tower was something even he hadn't expected.

Seeing Xu Zaijing and the others return, the Rong family maids Seeing Xi Bu and Huaxiang hurriedly climbed down from the Rong family's carriage.

After the two climbed down, Ningxiang and Rong Feiyan handed out all four pieces of clothing from the carriage.

Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, Qi Heng, and Rong Xian each prepared to take their own clothes from the maids' hands and put them on.

In the carriage, Rong Feiyan looked at Xu Zaijing through the gap in the curtain.

When Xu Zaijing unfolded the outer robe that Rong Feiyan had folded with her own hands and put it on, Rong Feiyan didn't know what she was thinking, but she bit her lip lightly with a smile in her eyes.

And looking at her brother, who was laughing and talking beside Xu Zaijing, Rong Feiyan sighed again.

Ningxiang, to the side, squatted beside Rong Feiyan and said: "Miss, actually, the Young Xiao Xiao Gongye looks quite good too!"

Hearing this, Rong Feiyan's field of vision finally included Qi Heng. Looking at Qi Heng's glance toward Huaxiang, Rong Feiyan shook her head.

"Then, Miss, the young master still has some money left, shall we go buy fabric?"

"Forget it, let the silk shop send the things home!"

"Yes."

Looking at Rong Xian, who was still talking to Xu Zaijing, Rong Feiyan said:

"Ningxiang, why do I see that my brother doesn't seem very willing to pay attention to Qiao Jiulang?"

Ningxiang, to the side, looked and nodded: "Miss is right, Qiao Jiulang's face is indeed a bit ugly! Didn't Qiao Jiulang and the young master play very well before?"

While the mistress and servant were talking, Seeing Xi Bu returned to the carriage.

Xu Zaijing and the others also began to mount their horses, preparing to leave the Xuande Tower and return to their respective homes.

After everyone bowed and said goodbye to each other, they walked on the road home.

Rong Feiyan lifted the carriage curtain and said to Rong Xian, who was riding a horse beside the carriage: "Brother, just now under the palace wall, why did I see you not paying attention to Qiao Jiulang?"

Rong Xian, on his tall horse, looked at his sister in the carriage window and said: "Is it that obvious?"

Rong Feiyan: "Brother, you've almost written the words 'I don't want to pay attention to Qiao Jiulang' on your face!"

Rong Xian curled his lips and said: "Pfft, sister, I just look down on Qiao Jiulang, who chased a courtesan from a brothel and lost his mind doing it."

"Brother, what's wrong with Qiao Jiulang that you say that about him?"

Rong Xian glanced at his sister and said: "Before, Brother Jing got several top-grade Great Gao swords, and Qiao Jiulang borrowed one."

Rong Feiyan nodded, waiting for Rong Xian's follow-up.

"Then two days ago, Qiao Jiulang pawned the sword!"

"Ah? Pawned it?"

"He, how did he dare?"

Rong Feiyan asked in surprise.

Rong Xian raised his eyebrows and said: "Yeah! For the sake of 'combing' that Yunniang!"

"Just now under the palace wall, Qiao Jiulang even told me about his vows of eternal love with that Yunniang."

"Pfft! How childish!!"

"Sister, why are you looking at me like that?"

Rong Feiyan in the carriage stiffened her face and forcefully pulled the curtain shut.

Rong Xian leaned over the horse's neck, leaned toward the carriage window, and lifted the curtain: "Speak! Why are you looking at your brother like that!"

Rong Feiyan: "Brother, didn't you also want to 'comb' a courtesan named Jiaoniang two years ago? The several hundred strings of cash you tricked me into lending you haven't been returned yet!"

Rong Xian immediately straightened up from the horse's back and argued: "You, at that time, I, your brother was young then! How did I understand so many twists and turns! Besides, it's not like I'm not paying it back!"

After a while, Rong Feiyan in the carriage said: "Brother, do you know where Qiao Jiulang pawned that Great Gao sword?"

Rong Xian shook his head and said: "Sister, don't think about it! That Great Gao sword of Qiao Jiulang's must be pawned for at least three thousand strings of cash!"

Rong Feiyan's voice came from the carriage: "So expensive, brother! Pay back the money! Right now!"

After waiting for a while with no reply, Rong Feiyan lifted the curtain, but Rong Xian was no longer beside the carriage.

On the road back to Quyuanjie,

Xu Zaijing was riding in front,

Before long, the sound of horse hooves came from behind.

Xu Zaijing looked back and saw Gu Tingye chasing up with Zhi Que.

Looking at Xu Zaijing's puzzled expression, Gu Tingye said: "Brother Jing, the gatekeeper at home said Mother went to your house, so I'm going to pick her up."

Xu Zaijing nodded; Xingguofang was close to the Imperial Palace anyway.

Gu Tingye and Xu Zaijing were in front, followed by Qingyun, Zhi Que, and Huaxiang in the carriage.

After walking for a distance, Xu Zaijing turned his head and said: "Brother Ye, why do you keep looking at me?"

"Brother Jing, Qiao Jiulang pawned the Great Gao sword, don't you mind?"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "I mind! But Qiao Jiu is the one who gave the money after all, and he didn't say he wouldn't give it later."

"The one Qiao Jiu gave you is different from the one I gave you, so it's not enough to break off relations!"

Gu Tingye nodded with a smile in his eyes; he was very satisfied with the precious sword Xu Zaijing had given him.

Then Gu Tingye looked at Xu Zaijing and said, "Jing-ge'er, I think Qiao Jiu has truly become obsessed! For the sake of a low-class courtesan, he is pouring his heart and soul out like a fool."

Xu Zaijing turned his head and scanned Gu Tingye with an ambiguous look.

Gu Tingye frowned and said: "Brother Jing, why are you looking at me like that!?"

Xu Zaijing shook his head: "Nothing! Just hoping Qiao Jiu wakes up soon."

Gu Tingye nodded.

Quyuanjie,

The two arrived at the courtyard of Xu Zaijing's mother, Sun Shi,

"Auntie Bai, peace."

"Sister Tingyi, peace."

Gu Tingye:

"Auntie Sun, peace."

"Sister-in-law, peace."

Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye each greeted them.

Then, Xu Xingdai crawled out of Gu Tingyi's arms, laughed, and threw himself onto Xu Zaijing's leg: "Little Uncle, Little Uncle, fly fly!"

Madam Bai looked at the look Sun Shi gave her younger son, then looked at Xu Zaijing's wandering eyes, and exchanged a look with the equally confused Gu Tingyi.

Xu Zaijing squatted down, picked up his nephew, and said: "Brother Dai, we aren't flying anymore! Your little uncle still wants to live a little longer."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 364 =====